All the Libertarians I know are either 20-something dudes who love weed and have very little idea what the federal government actually does or brilliant sociopaths who believe they would flourish in a country without a strong central government and therefore, screw you.

kxs401:All the Libertarians I know are either 20-something dudes who love weed and have very little idea what the federal government actually does or brilliant sociopaths who believe they would flourish in a country without a strong central government and therefore, screw you.

Anecdata!

I can't disagree. I went through a dumb college libertarian phase. Then I graduated and the real world slapped some sense into me. Between wising up and watching the political spectrum around me being distorted, I'm now pretty damn liberal.

kxs401:All the Libertarians I know are either 20-something dudes who love weed and have very little idea what the federal government actually does or brilliant sociopaths who believe they would flourish in a country without a strong central government and therefore, screw you.

kxs401:All the Libertarians I know are either 20-something dudes who love weed and have very little idea what the federal government actually does or brilliant sociopaths who believe they would flourish in a country without a strong central government and therefore, screw you.

You forget about rich guys who got their wealth largely because of advantages that only happen in a stater where the govt makes investments for the future, who want to end thos einvestments because they are bootstrappy.

kxs401:Also, there are a few who are Republicans but too self-aware to call themselves Republicans.

THIS.

My best friend from high school has recently decided to call himself Libertarian, but he pretty much parrots Rand Paul (who himself apparently hasn't had an original idea in years). I finally had to block him from FB because of all the "ERMAHGERD! SEEKRIT MOOSELEM!" bullshiat.

I do enjoy my debates with the couple of friends who can hold decent, thought-provoking conversations, but this guy apparently thinks Monty Python's Argument Clinic is a good idea.

In my lolbertarian days (I was registered Librtarian from '76 to '06) I was a Briefly Tempting, Left-Wing, Stoned Libertarian, as best as I can remember.

Due to influence from my mother's then-boyfriend (who was a weird combination of Naive, Terrified, Whitey and The Apostle), I became a big fan of Ron Paul's 1988 Presidential campaign on the Libertarian ticket.

Then as I grew older, I realized most of everything in the Libertarian platform short of legalizing drugs was stupid.

QueenMamaBee:kxs401: Also, there are a few who are Republicans but too self-aware to call themselves Republicans.

THIS.

My best friend from high school has recently decided to call himself Libertarian, but he pretty much parrots Rand Paul (who himself apparently hasn't had an original idea in years). I finally had to block him from FB because of all the "ERMAHGERD! SEEKRIT MOOSELEM!" bullshiat.

I do enjoy my debates with the couple of friends who can hold decent, thought-provoking conversations, but this guy apparently thinks Monty Python's Argument Clinic is a good idea.

/no it isn't

But, seriously - the difficulty is that taken as individual principles, the vast majority of Libertarian principles are morally and philosophically sound.What "Libertarians" fail to see is that is is quite possible for this to be so, and at the same time, for "Libertarianism" as an overarching social and political philosophy to be utter nonsense.That is, in fact, the case.

"free markets to a gaggle of misfits who want pot and prostitution legalized and a total non-interventionist foreign policy."

What exactly do you think the "free market" is going to provide? Wholesome values? Left to their own devices people will sell each other for a pocket of shiny rocks you flippin' moron.

"Libertarians have devolved from the pro-liberty wing of the right side of the ledger to the annoying kid who, when he doesn't get 100 percent of what he wants, takes his ball and goes home."

Who are you dictate what "pro liberty" is supposed to mean? If your highest goal is personal freedom, don't be surprised when it turns out to be purely selfish means. This guy is arguing contradictions.

UNC_Samurai:I can't disagree. I went through a dumb college libertarian phase. Then I graduated and the real world slapped some sense into me. Between wising up and watching the political spectrum around me being distorted, I'm now pretty damn liberal.

Libertarians, like the Tea Party, are a group that espouses ideas that are contrary to what the individuals actually believe. I like jeffersonian liberalism, but I understand that as a practical matter progressive liberalism is more aligned to today's practical realities. It would be really "nice" if we could have a small central government, strong constitutional liberties and a strong self reliance. It is something that did work when this country was expanding, but these days we can't go back to the quaint world of homesteads. That is where libertarians get into trouble. They have ignored why we got where we are. Social justice, government oversight and restraint of rights were all necessary to have a functional and better society.

Like any pure political philosophy libertarianism in an extreme form is doomed to failure. Socialism, Capitalism (technically it's a kind of Oligarchy, I guess), Communism, Authoritarianism... every single one is a non-starter unless blended with several other philosophies.

This is why the general talking points coming from the GOP these days are so pants on head retarded. You shouldn't have to change your underpants every time Rush tells you something socialist is a-brewing... you should be thinking about whether a socialist solution for a particular problem makes sense.

kxs401:All the Libertarians I know are either 20-something dudes who love weed and have very little idea what the federal government actually does or brilliant sociopaths who believe they would flourish in a country without a strong central government and therefore, screw you.